I never thought I might write a diary, one that could even be made public, in the sense that its content is something that I would like to share with other people.

But yesterday, a beautiful sunny winter Sunday, I decided I could do this…

We spent a wonderful time, Anamaria Szabo and myself, two Fulbright scholars coming from the same place, Bucharest, to the same location, University of Vermont, Burlington, in the kind and friendly company of professor Steve Cutler (former Fulbright scholar in Bucharest and reputed professor of Gerontology at the University of Vermont, Burlington), living in Bridport, not far from Burlington, and Karan, his hospitable and most generous wife.

The short tour that Steve and Karan had us make, round the Lake Champlain, the ski trails and the small, but beautiful towns that circle the lake, along the winding mountainous road - fully convinced me that winter season is both worth enjoying and witnessing the funniest or the most spectacular scenes…

Here are a few photos, they are all taken on the lake, the frozen, solid frozen lake, where you can walk, as if you were walking on water… someone may have this strange impression because the ice is so transparent, that you fear you will not be able to make a step forward, not to fall deep into the ice-cold water… However, what you walk on is the ice that can be more than two-three meters thick… Fishermen, all very experienced local people, would mount small tents on their lake, so as to get a bit warmer, to fix some heating device there, drill their fishing whole and wait… You can see those tents in the distance, on the beautiful sunny day…

Anamaria, and I enjoyed every moment of this short, wonderful trip! Ana found a small rock, a crystal-clear piece of ice rock, you can see how clear it can be! Water, when so pure, once turned into ice, is like a beautiful glittering piece of crystal, isn’t it?

We warmly thank professor Steve and Karan Cutler for the beautiful day we spent together in the Champlain Valley!

Vermont University is located in a most attractive place, Ana and I are both grateful for the opportunity to stay and study here, for a while and enjoy the season landscape!

 Burlington, 26th of January, 2015